December 29, 2011Open Access
Right Heart Structural Changes Are Independently Associated with Exercise Capacity in Non-Severe COPD
Structured PICO
Are right sided cardiac structural changes associated with reduced exercise capacity in patients with non-severe COPD?
P
Population
Patients with non-severe COPD
I
Intervention
Right sided cardiac structural changes (echocardiographic evidence of pulmonary hypertension)
O
Outcome
Six minute walk distancesurrogate
Right heart structural changes in non-severe COPD are associated with reduced exercise capacity, suggesting early pulmonary hypertension with functional consequences.
Abstract
In patients with non-severe COPD right sided cardiac structural changes are associated with lower six minute walk distance independent of lung function. These findings may indicate that echocardiographic evidence of pulmonary hypertension is present in patients with non-severe COPD and has important functional consequences.